Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Sea of Dreams Baby Blanket by Aimee Alexander

Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in "Little Mouse" colourway

Needle Size: US 3 (3.25mm) and US 4 (3.5mm)

Modifications: None.

Comments: This was my Ravellenic Games project in the Giant Slalom-ghan event. I cast on during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and bound off Saturday Febraruy 15th.  As near as I can figure I finished 25th in a field of 820 international competitors. Maybe not medal-worthy, but I'm happy with that.

The pressure of competitive knitting was good for me - it was what kept me going through the tiresome middle part of the blanket. That's not meant to be a knock on the pattern; it's just I get bored with long repetitive seemingly endless rows. Blankets are a struggle for me.

The yarn was a but disappointing. It knit up with a fuzziness that I didn't expect based on its appearance when purchased. It's also quite splitty if you've tinked back a row, but for the price it's still a good deal. I've machine washed and dried the blanket and it looks great. I purchased three balls - 1086 yards total - and knit until the yarn ran out. The resulting blanket is 34" x 38" after blocking.
The pattern is really beautiful. I'll definitely knit it again. In fact, I may or may not have ordered this yarn to knit another :)

Pattern: Mr. Dress-Up by Valerie Johnson

Yarn: Top Cat MCN in "Sandalwood" colourway

Needle Size: US 1 (2.25mm)

Modifications: I lengthened the ribbing on the cuffs and ended the final repeat of the leg 9 stitches before the end of round to centre the diamond motif on the instep.

Comments: When Valerie published this free pattern and announced a KAL, I knew I was in. It's been a cold winter here and some non-lacy, non-fussy hand knit socks are just what the doctor ordered. When I bought this yarn I was on the lookout for a simple masculine pattern, and this pattern delivers. It's a quick and easy knit - although there's lots of purling - and the finished sock is very handsome. And if you hurry, there's still more than a week to join the KAL and qualify for prizes :)

Happy Friday everyone! We're having a very windy and rainy Friday here, but you'll get no complaints from me. If the precipitation is falling as rain, it's above zero and that's awesome. For sure there's more snow coming in March, but the mountainous snow piles are melting leaving us with somewhere to shovel the next load of snow. Friday is also Finished Object Friday at Tami's Amis - why not follow me over there to see all the other finishes, and maybe stumble over a medal winner or two?!